The Chicago Bulls becoming the number one team, record wise, reveals a quantum leap this season and ramifications for the future. Not many people are examining the Bulls massive improvements – they practically flew over the Atlantic Ocean without breaking a sweat. Imagine predicting that the Bulls would be the number one team with the best defense before the season started. Imagine that. People laugh, mock, wants some weed that you smoked, and then label you a Bulls homer. That is why some of us should say, “We’ll see.”

Paul's comments on Twitter indicated he felt as though his words were taken out of context.

"Come on now people," Paul tweeted, "I did 3 different interviews about the Jordan Brand Classic this morning and was asked if Michael Jordan had influence on free agent signings and I said at the end of the day guys want to win...they askd would I want to return home and I told them I'm focused here in NO and that's the future and anything can happen...Hate when people try to turn things around just to make it a story.. #slowdown."

Former Detroit Pistons Dennis Rodman has been elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The official announcement will be made Monday at the Final Four in Houston.

What’s going on? Derrick Rose is not officially anointed as the 2010-2011 NBA MVP, but people are coming out from the woodwork to get vocal. They banded together to try to prevent him from getting the award. It just seems that way, which is hilarious. I do not know what the huge deal is. What is the problem? A lot of people are up in arms about this. I have to figure this out. Writers and basketball purists are getting emotional over this. I have to explore the reasoning behind the hate.

When it came to talking about the past, the two had a lot of worthwhile stuff to say. When it came to the present and future, Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, had this to say about the Bulls: “You guys are in store for a lot of other championships. If you look at this team tonight…don’t be suprised if you have six more coming.”

The Chicago Bulls –not the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, or Orlando Magic- may in fact be the best team in the Eastern Conference. (They will not win another six championships with this group of players.)

There are two reasons for this. First, the Bulls have Derrick Rose, who through the first sixty games of the season is the consensus league MVP.

Rose’s game has evolved in 2011 because of his extended range, which has made him a pick-your-poison, unstoppable force. He could always blow by overzealous defenders, but now he also punishes defenders who sag with his improved jump shot.

Second, the Bulls are getting stops. Hiring Tom Thibodeau, the former defensive guru for Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics, has made all the difference in their own end.

Don’t be surprised if His Airness’ former team is the one to survive the Eastern Conference and advance to the NBA Finals.

Can you believe it’s been 19 years since the original Dream Team dominated the 1992 Summer Olympics? Perhaps more amazingly, can you believe that in all that time that I have maintained my collection of Starting Lineup Dream Team figurines in its original box, unopened and untouched by human hands?

“Basically, you feel betrayed by somebody you love,’’ Wallace told the Observer before Saturday’s Blazers-Bobcats game. “I totally didn’t see it coming. I’d been there seven long years and then you feel like you’re not wanted anymore. That’s a bad situation to be in, especially for me, who committed so much to the organization.

“I understand the situation – it’s a business and they’re looking to start all over. They wanted cap room, and I guess I was the logical answer for them trying to get draft picks.’’

On the one hand, he should feel disappointed and, perhaps, ‘betrayed’ by the Charlotte Bobcats, who dealt him at the trade deadline for draft picks.

After all, Wallace was their heart and soul. The three-man was one of the Bobcats’ original players, and in Charlotte he matured from a raw athlete man into an established professional.

Best of all, Wallace was blue-collar. He never took a night off. He always played hard. Night-in, night-out, he left it all on the floor. No matter how bad his team and the talent around him were.

On the other hand, the NBA, like Wallace mentions, is a ‘business’. The Bobcats are bidding their time until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement levels the playing field, which means swapping expensive salaries for draft picks, prospects, and expiring contracts.

Team Jordan couldn’t afford the two years and $20 million remaining on Wallace’s contract. So he was a goner.

There are plenty of positives, though. The Portland Trail Blazers, Wallace’s new team, are relevant. They have young talent: LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wes Mathews, and Brandon Roy (provided he recovers).

Of course, Paul Allen owns the Blazers, so the club has deep pockets and will spend to win.

Change is never easy; however, being ’betrayed’ by Charlotte and starting over with Portland may be best for Wallace.

The Heat would like to sign Mike Bibbyif the Wizards give him a buyout; Washington called it unlikely but hasn’t ruled it out. The Heat will explore Troy Murphy if he gets a buyout from Golden State (one report has Boston as the front-runner) and perhaps Indiana’s T.J. Ford, but he’s a poor three-point shooter.

Charlotte's Gerald Wallace has been traded to Portland, according to sources. The Blazers had strongly been coveting an upgrade at the deadline. Portland will send Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham and two first round picks to the Bobcats in exchange for Wallace.

Wallace, the franchise face of the Bobcats, was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers for Joel Przybilla's expiring pact and two first round draft picks, while Mohammed was shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder for D.J. White and Mo Peterson's expiring pact.

Clearly, Jordan is stockpiling draft picks and reducing salary for whatever comes after the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

And His Airness is surely banking on the league’s next financial landscape to be fairer and provide greater opportunities for his small market Bobcats.

Currently, they can’t compete and it has to be killing one of the game’s great competitors.

He complained about his lack of playing time, his lack of touches and the Lakers' lack of effort. I was out there playing hard, man," Bynum said. "In the second half, I didn't really get in the game."

Bynum played only 23 minutes 8 seconds. He scored nine points, shooting only six times, making three. In the second half, Bynum played 8:07, and not at all in the fourth quarter. He scored one point after halftime, and got only one shot.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: For the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s the difference between mediocrity and greatness.

When Andrew Bynum is injured, struggling, or frustrated, the Lakers are vulnerable against bigger, athletic teams. Like, say, the Charlotte Bobcats.

On Monday, Team Jordan had their way with the purple-and-gold, dominating the paint in a blow out victory over the Lakers.

While Bynum’s complaints about minutes and touches aren’t reason to panic, Coach Phil Jackson must keep Bynum happy. His well-being, both physical and mental, must be monitored.

After all, Bynum was involved in some viral gossip last week –the Lakers and Denver Nuggets reportedly discussed swapping the seven-footer for Carmelo Anthony.

When Bynum is relatively healthy and focused, the Lakers are a tough match-up because of his size. Few teams can handle a frontcourt of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Bynum.

For instance, Bynum, even with a wonky knee, was too much for the Boston Celtics to handle in game seven of the NBA Finals. His frame, length, and wingspan were key to the Lakers winning the championship.

To have any chance at a thee-peat, the Lakers need a healthy and happy Bynum.

He wants to be better than Michael Jordan. Most people would be scared to admit that because that guy was that good and did that much. So you have to understand that what Kobe’s trying to get as a basketball player and what it takes to get there, a lot of us don’t even have the gall, the balls, the will.

In a recent interview, the Los Angeles Lakers’ renaissance forward re-opened the Pandora’s Box known as Kobe-versus-Mike.

Odom states that Kobe Bryant’s goal is to be better than Michael Jordan, and the Black Mamba believes he can achieve this by passing His Airness’ total of six championships.

If only it were so simple.

Championships are one measure of a player’s greatness. The other has to be how that player performed during those championship series. In the other words, when the chips were on the line, what did the player do?

In this respect, Jordan has Bryant beat. It’s not even close.

After all, Jordan went six and zero in the NBA Finals. He never lost; nobody could touch him, as he won six Most Valuable Player awards.

Bryant is 5-2 in the NBA Finals. His Lakers have lost to the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. For his first three championships, Bryant was a co-star next to the ‘Most Dominant Ever’ in Shaquille O’Neal.

Bryant wants to be better than Jordan; however, he can’t touch The Greatest of All Time. Not now; not ever.

If they're not, adding Jackson and the $19.3 million he is owed over the next two seasons wouldn't make sense for either party. "He's happy there," a confidant said of Jackson. "He loves the city of Charlotte, and he loves to play for one of the greatest players to play the game, Michael Jordan."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well hallelujah. Stephen Jackson is ‘happy’ in Charlotte.

Apparently, the talented swing ‘loves’ the city of Charlotte and having Michael Jordan, the Bobcats’ owner, as his boss. So he wants to stay and fulfill the remaining two years and approximately $19 million on his contract.

There may not be a ‘happily ever after’, though.

Jackson often resmebles an impulsive teenager, changing his mind and word. Years ago, he turned down an extension from the world champion San Antonio Spurs to test the market and ended up with the lowly Atlanta Hawks.

More recently, he was enamoured with the Golden State Warriors and mad-scientist sideline boss Don Nelson. Then, like ‘Radio Raheem’ in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, the 'love became hate' and Jackson split from the Warriors and ‘Nellie’.

Of course, there’s another party in this relationship, the Bobcats. Jackson will become available if the club falls from the playoff race or if Jordan opts for long-term financial flexibility.

Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was interested in making an offer to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets until, sources said, the All-Star forward informed Jordan through a representative that he had no interest in playing for the struggling Bobcats or signing a contract extension with them.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: As a player, Michael Jordan had influence. As an owner, he doesn’t have the same pull.

For instance, controversial forward Carmelo Anthony has politely said thanks but no thanks to joining Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats.

The star forward recently told The GOAT he had no interest in signing a long-term extension in small market Charlotte and becoming the Bobcats’ saviour, so Jordan shouldn’t bother trying to acquire him from the Denver Nuggets.

Fair enough.

So Jordan has created a quagmire in Charlotte. As owner and head of basketball operations, he seems either unable or unwilling to draft and develop players.

This means he must build his squad through trades and free agency –which is problematic. For instance, superstars and top talent, like Anthony, prefer major markets with filthy rich owners to Jordan’s poorer, small market Bobcats.

Unfortunately, Jordan is again learning the hard way that owning and running a team is very different than starring for one.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It sounds good. A pair of former rivals joining forces to turnaround a morbid franchise.

Would it have worked? We’ll never know.

Patrick Ewing, an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic and retired Hall of Fame pivot for the New York Knick, has told reporters he talked with Michael Jordan about the head coaching job with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Jordan, a Hall of Fame two-guard with the Chicago Bulls who often beat Ewing’s Knicks in the playoffs, now owns the Bobcats and fired Coach Larry Brown last week. He then hired Paul Silas to replace Brown on the sideline.

There are two points on Ewing’s comments. First, he deserves a head coaching job. This, however, wasn’t a fit.

Ewing needs a young team he can teach, groom, and mentor -like Scott Brooks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He needs a team where his players will learn from him and vice-versa.

Gerald Wallace aside, the Bobcats are a mess. They’re compromised of mediocre, overpaid veterans and D.J. Augustine, who may develop into a decent table-setter.

If Brown, the teacher of all teachers, couldn’t reach them then Ewing would’ve struggled on the sideline, too.

Second, there are just 30 head coaching jobs in the NBA. Getting one isn’t easy, and potential candidates –like Ewing- have to keep their names in the press.

This may be a case of Ewing seeking publicity. Remember, Stan Van Gundy, the head coach for the Magic, has publicly criticized other organizations for not interviewing or even considering Ewing.

So Jordan and Ewing won’t be joining forces in Charlotte. It wasn’t meant to be. And it’s probably best for all involved.

So Jordan turned to the past. Former Charlotte Hornets Coach Paul Silas returns to the sideline –at least on an interim basis. This makes sense because Silas is local, living in North Carolina full time.

Bringing back Baron Davis, however, does not make sense.

This isn’t the fresh-faced kid who played in every game for the Charlotte Hornets. This isn’t the fresh-faced kid who was on the verge of becoming a superstar. And this isn’t the fresh-faced kid who bonded with Silas so many years ago.

Davis, at 31, is an over-the-hill, out-of-shape veteran. He doesn’t love the game anymore; the passion is gone. He is now more interested in making movies than winning games for the Clippers.

Charlotte Bobcats Chairman and CEO Michael Jordan announced today that, effective immediately, Larry Brown is stepping down as head coach of the team.

"I met with Coach Brown two weeks ago about the team’s performance and what we could do to improve it,” said Jordan. “We met again this morning after practice. The team has clearly not lived up to either of our expectations and we both agreed that a change was necessary.

“This was a difficult decision for both of us, but one that needed to be made. I want to thank Larry for everything he has done for our team. He has played a key role in this organization’s development, including coaching us to our first playoff appearance last season. Larry will continue to be a valuable advisor to me regarding the team. The search for a successor will begin immediately.”

Larry Brown is out as coach of the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, who have failed to meet expectations after a fine 2010 season.

Brown's departure hardly comes as a surprise. He has never stayed with an organization for long and, despite being under contract with the Bobcats, had interest in openings with the L.A. Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers last summer.

Team Jordan is also terrible, losing by 30 points last night to the John Wall-less Washington Wizards.

Brown had seen enough. On to the next coaching gig for Mr. 'Play The Right Way' –wherever that may be.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is pushing to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Nuggets, according to a league source. The Knicks and Nets have spent a lot of time on the phone with the Nuggets and popular belief is that Anthony wants to play in New York.LinkHoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Michael Jordan could do anything on-the-court. Years later, Jordan the owner and executive does not possess the same skill off-the-court.
So the Tsar of the Charlotte Bobcats can dream of Carmelo Anthony. He can talk to the Denver Nuggets. Heck, he can even acquire the superstar in a trade.
Suppose Jordan traded for Anthony before the February deadline. Even ‘The Greatest of all Time’ wouldn’t be able to get Melo’ to sign a multi-year extension with the Bobcats.
Jordan’s legacy doesn’t matter. Neither does his business relationship with Anthony through Brand Jordan.
Charlotte is like Denver. It’s small. And Anthony is thinking big –real big. In fact, sources indicate the small forward is determined to end up with the New York Knicks.
After all, Anthony and his wife both have ties to New York, the media capital of the world. The Knicks will also spend to win. And forty-one nights a year he’d playing in historic Madison Square Gardens with budding superstar Amar’e Stoudemire.
Unfortunately, Jordan can’t compete with that -unless he can turn back the clock to 1997 and decides to suit up.
--Oly Sandor.Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Oh, to be the G.O.A.T. With enough money in the bank that his son can burn through $50K in one day in Vegas without flinching, it's not particularly surprising to see Mike drop a huge wad of cash on property. This time, it's being reported that Michael Jordan has spent some $12,400,000 on a new house situated in a super-exclusive golf development owned by Jack Nicklaus.

Even with waterfront homes still available for sale, Money opted for something a little more secluded, copping what is believed to be the most expensive spot in the development without direct access to the water. The property also includes a guard house, a guest house and a pool house, all of which is spread over a sprawling 28,000 square feet in sunny Jupiter, Florida. While Jordan's initial financial commitment totals $12.4 million ($4.8 million for the land and a further $7.6 million for the construction), it's expected that he'll have ploughed a cool $20 million into the home when all is said and done.

If Mike's looking for some competition on the links, he may ring the doorbell of neighbor and friend Tiger Woods, who snapped up three adjacent properties on the development to create his own megahome.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This is a ploy. The owners and players are currently negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Commissioner David Stern will use this leverage to threaten the Player’s Union. They concede on salary rollbacks or he’ll ‘push’ to contract the Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Hornets.

Forget the CBA drama. Would contraction be so bad?

Memphis and New Orleans will always struggle to generate sufficient revenue –even with a new CBA. After all, Grizzly and Hornet owners Michael Heisley and George Shinn have been trying to sell their teams for years.

They can't.

There’s no interest. And there's no market.

However, Stern wouldn’t let Michael Jordan - the most popular NBA player of all time - buy the Bobcats if contraction was a real possibility in Charlotte.

Charlotte may still be angry because of the Hornets’ departure. Attendance may be mediocre. And Jordan may have bought the team for less than the expansion fee that original owner Bob Johnson paid.

North Carolina is a hoops hotbed. Basketball is a religion; years before they left Charlotte, the Hornets led the NBA in attendance.

Jordan used his money to buy the team. He’s too competitive to allow the Bobcats to languish. He’ll change the culture and environment.

Stern knows this.

While contraction may be the best option for Memphis and New Orleans, Charlotte should stay. Let Jordan stick out his trademark tongue, put in work, and fix things.